Michelangeli plays Scarlatti - Sonata in B minor

[sharonlynnjoyce2]

piano



[geertdehoux]

Neither I can ?

That proves you ARE an idiot, otherwise you wouldn't write such a stupidity!

Oh, it's ME who has "misplaced arrogance"...

Sorry, sorry, sorry for that!

[Pretendkid]

I can't believe I stumbled across this! Love it!

[geertdehoux]

@Pretendkid

Good luck with your love!

[toraousama5726]

何とも素晴らしい！！端正なこの姿勢！だからこそ可能な、指にす­べての神経を集中できる、、エレガント！！

[frankenzizschen]

What a genius. Interesting how watching him play takes away a lot from the music; once I close my eyes his playing and Scarlatti come flowing beautifully ...

[geertdehoux]

"Bahahahahaha..." ???: what is 'funny' ??

Because you write stupidities, I am "a boor" ?!

"Not comparable" ? Well, nor Italy, nor Germany, nor France, nor England have "music comparable to music from Spain either, so what ??

Bach ?? What does Bach (which Bach ?) have to do with this ??

Again, what a stupid reaction.

It's very clear to me you have nearly no knowledge about classical music, so why don't you write about items you DO have knowledge of ?!

Or, perhaps there aren't any...

[josetato]

@geertdehoux I just read your coment...seems to me you are the one with no knowledge about classical music..holy shit o_O what you find in youtube.

[geertdehoux]

@josetato

"Seems" to you ?

Can be that it "seems" to you, of course.

But I don't care about just another idiot on Youtube.

[geertdehoux]

@josetato

"Holy" shit ?

If someone thinks shit is "holy", then what could that idiot EVER understand about beautiful music ??!

[josetato]

@geertdehoux hahah do I need to explain what "Holy Shit" means? Of course nobody believe that shit is holy. Or do I have to use perfect and well-mannered English? (which by the way is not my first language). Yeah this "idiot" understands a lot about music but thats not something I can prove right? And neither you can. But you clearly have misplaced arrogance.

[geertdehoux]

@josetato

Just imagine the following situation:

A professional scientist gives his reactions on an amount of stupidities written by others.

Another guy's comment on the scientist's comments is: "It seems you have no knowledge about science."

Then, WHO is the "arrogant" idiot here ??

Capito ?



[siamco]

I've got a feeling that light travels faster that sound.

[geertdehoux]

@siamco

How did you feel it ?

[meredith218461]

As always with Michelangeli there is immaculate pianism, however for me the playing is somewhat souless.

[andyfinch1997]

@meredith218461 Yes, a bit. 

[adeadone]

To anyone else doing this for grade 8: don't play it this fast or the examiner will be very surprised (unless you can play it like michelangeli). Also take a look at Gilels version, Which is very slow, but incredibly lyrical smooth. It's probably best to find a happy medium, or just play it how you think it would sound best :) This is an amazing recording, but I wouldn't recommend attempting to match the tempo.

[geertdehoux]

@adeadone

You're right!

The great Gilels FELT music MUCH more DEEPLY than Benedetti, who didn't "feel" so much, I suppose!

[DynamoTk]

2 porks and 1 pig

[habydlg]

@DynamoTk aaaaand... another pig

[petertkf1]

This is Incredibly fast! How can he do that? How can i play this fast on my exam..

-.-

[pcmh1978]

@petertkf1 You don't have to play it at this speed for your exam. Find a speed that's comfortable for you. Speed isn't everything.

[geertdehoux]

@petertkf1

Don't: it won't serve the music.

[venzo77]

awesome, still gilels version is more inspired imo

[rimbronn]

Блестящая игра!

[vhfw]

Ahh... there is still some class in this world :)

[Pianoantics]

that makes two Italian artists as in the artistry of Michelangeli...

[shaunkoko]

2 animals watched this video

[sunidak]

@shaunkoko

oops! I maybe the third animal. :) Matter of taste....

[giuseppe35789]

immenso

[oitotheworld23]

simply beautiful.

[MrDobbspiano]

@ThePianisssimo From what I've seen it always depends on the teacher. I had one that allowed little pedal use in some passages, and then I had a college teacher that thought it was an abomination to get your foot within 2 feet of the pedal in any baroque piece. And yeah, when anyone gains enough fame, anything goes. I heard a recording of Rachmaninoff playing this very piece and he uses so much rubato throughout the piece.

[MrDobbspiano]

I seriously need to have a talk with my piano teacher. I study in college and they tell me that I can not use the pedal when playing baroque music. WHY CAN THIS MAN??

[vess1028]

@MrDobbspiano My teacher once told me because we dont play baroque songs on the harpsichord, so we have to make these pieces sound like they're played on the harpsichord even though its played on the piano. so maybe a LITTLE pedal is fine. But the main thing is to have these pieces played very 'baroque'.

[gianm73yout]

@MrDobbspiano Because he is Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, not a standard music teacher. :)

[MrDobbspiano]

@gianm73yout haha very good point



[30inventionman]

i fucking hte and dread b minor, suck my cock

[00gundamlll]

GDGDGD

[giuseppe76761]

tutto sembra immensamente facile se suona lui abgahghaghagha non fa una grinza 

[Jyoti691]

Totally I agree, fabulous and perfect with expression

Jyotidi

[MrWingedDeath]

Overall, nicely interpreted. But one thing remains, does this guy know the meaning of pedalling? If Scarlatti wanted those cross hand notes staccato, he would have marked them so. But, then again, it's called an "Interpretation" for a reason....

[ToneDeafecation]

@MrWingedDeath

The most clueless person about pedalling would of course be Scarlatti himself!!These pieces were written for harpsichord...no pedals OR dynamics I'm afraid.Most of the keyboard stuff written in those days was devoid of expression marks.The romantics..Liszt in particular...obviously tried to compensate by peppering every bar with dozens of written instructions,dots,dashes,blips­,blarts,farts ad nauseam...Bloody control freaks!

[MrWingedDeath]

@ToneDeafecation Ah, you have a point! Yeah, it's something of an eyesore, especially if you have seen the original (Or a facsimile of them) they are almost impossible to read, mainly though due to the erratic drawings of hurried composing! Yeah, I understand that these weren't written for more modern keyboards such as piano, and that pedaling may have slurred it too far, with this extent of legato playing as a tempo, with staccato notes, but I agree, Liszt's peices are quite...involved!

[alxvieti]

Usually I really love ABM's interpretations, and he played this sonata perfectly but IMHO quite superficial. Listen to Gilels who needed much more time for his singing sound and introvert approach, time for a meditative insight instead of "looking" just at the surface of the piece as ABM did. I know much more genious interpretations from him, so I prefer definitely Gilels for this sonata. BTW: I ever listen both of them once, in the same concert hall, and it was impressiv both times.

[mikkygou]

@barbapippo - yes your right, its without the chord, but from my point of view it adds a clearer finish to the piece, after all this IS scarlatti, not Chopin, where an elegant finish is more suitable for example...but initialy this piece is suppose to be slower, so a finish without the chord would be, well maybe even "hurried" if you know what I mean. However, i agree with Michelangelis tempo and interpretation, so obviously i agree with the chord here. But everything is totally an opinion. :))

[xBananaBie]

This is the bomb! :D

Forgive me for using such informal slang to describe this beautiful piece

[Barbapippo]

I'm almost sure the final chord doesn't exist in Scarlatti's score... I think that ending on the bass b flat is much more elegant; anyway, Michelangeli is wonderful

[Barbapippo]

In fact, it's b...

[airmailonwheels]

May his spirit possess me on the day of my exam.

[astronomo16]

Michelangeli era para la música lo que Juan Ramón Jiménez era para la literatura. Eliminaba todo lo accesorio hasta quedarse con la pureza y belleza en sí misma. Esta música es un ejemplo

[hobosapiens]

it's shocking. i know that michelangeli is a famous master but i prefer the versions of scott ross and murray perahia of this sonata.

[Paulland30]

Whyyyyyyyy they have to use the pedalll to play this!! oh Godd,, noooo

[msbrownization]

Well i thk gilels interpretation is way too modern... This sounds rightly boraque to me.

[vurria123]

The rhythmic pulse is always important in Michelangeli - and it's crucial to a strong interpretation of ealier music like this. The perfection of many ingredients, to find the balance among them - this was the unique mental and physical power of Michelangeli. This performance is absolutely dazzling and mysterious.

[lostpebble]

this is just so .... Together!!

[recorderson]

Perfect ! Great Michelangeli ! Thanks for posting !

[Obelix5150]

are my ears dumb, or did he neglect the trill in the left hand at :30?

[ArturoBendetti]

@Obelix5150 er.... you could be right! Maybe you could prove it if you have a recording on your PC. Then you could listen to it in a slower way. But I remember reading a Edition by Peter's who has just other notes in some bars (when the repeated theme starts at 0:11 he had two different theme) and so on you can not be sure what Scarlatti actually wrote. Only if anybody would know a really old edition.

Bye Arturo

[geertdehoux]

To all the people who adore Michelangeli's often sterile piano playing: please listen to the Master's opposite, real interpreter: the great, unique Chavela Vargas!

A cordial greeting,

Geert Dehoux, pianist.

[jonnykam]

@geertdehoux

I couldn't agree less!

[geertdehoux]

@jonnykam

Agree less about what ?

[jonnykam]

@geertdehoux

About the fact that Michelangeli's playing would be sterile...

[geertdehoux]

@jonnykam

Oh... OK, each of us has the right of having his/her own opinion.

But I wrote: "often" sterile, not "always".

A cordial greeting,

Geert Dehoux.

[DunNotCome]

OMG ABRSM GRADE 8 PIECE 2011-2012 RAPE!!!

[wawerua96]

HOW DOES HE DO IT? NO OFF-NOTE AT ALL

[bennieee]

If anyone wants to get this on DVD, it’s from “Michelangeli plays Beethoven (1962)” – published 2005 by Opus Arte – and is available on Amazon.

[psainio1]

Happy 325th birthday, Domenico!

[frablu3s]

semplicemente... fantastico!!

[bersa888]

This is a very "pianistic" ("harpsichordic") sonata. It is not hard. What is hard is to play it like that (and I'm not talking about the speed)...

[geertdehoux]

@bersa888

Do you think it was 'hard to play like that' for Arturo himself ?

[bersa888]

@geertdehoux : of course no. When did I ever said that?! Back in Italy, during my high school years, a couple of friends and I used to have what we called "The ABM Club".... I had the fortune to hear him in Lugano, Switzerland a few years before he died... "his sound" heard live was something out this world :-)

[geertdehoux]

@bersa888

Hello.

Did I say you said that ? No, I didn't: I only asked you a question; nothing more.

Thanks for the interesting information.

I think you can call yourself lucky because you could assist several of this great Master's concerts!

About sound: as his sound was unique too, I say the same about Emil Gilels!

Cordially,

Geert Dehoux, pianist.

[gohanisbuckethead]

all of you guys that make him look like god , im telling you that if you heard a midi play and didnt have a video you might as well have said that its michelangelli. no offense he is one of the greaters pianists. but at some certain points the playing is really mechanical. it get VERY boring when he keeps the same tempo throughout the whole piece with an accuracy of 0.000001 seconds !! i personally prefer gilels version but dont try to kill me with your answers....

[Azergardash]

@gohanisbuckethead You are a bucket head indeed! :)

[geertdehoux]

@Azergardash

Luckely he's not a heading bucket...  :-)

[Azergardash]

@gohanisbuckethead You are a bucket head indeed! :) Of course, it was written for mechanical piano in Middle Ages.

[geertdehoux]

@gohanisbuckethead

Arturo was not a god: he was a human being like you and me, with a phenomenal talent for playing the piano.

Don't make more of it, please.

[brianCIM]

@gohanisbuckethead check out the 1949 recording of the Bach-Busoni Chaconne. his color palette is simply frightening. and no, you don't deserve to die because of stating your opinion.(lol)

[gohanisbuckethead]

i personally think that gilels slow version is "better" according to me. he brings the slower melodies more beautifully. i kind of think that so much notes are underestimated with this speed. whereas gilels version has much more passion and does justice to this sonata. excelent pianist though

[geertdehoux]

@gohanisbuckethead

I fully agree with you! The older Gilels put so much expression and lyrism into this piece, while Michelangeli's pianistically brilliant performance shows a total lack of warm feelings.

[msbrownization]

@gohanisbuckethead but gilels used way too much padels

i doubt if they even existed in boraque period

[geertdehoux]

@msbrownization

Of course those pedals did not exist in that era!

So, what ??

[sam0xin]

So solid & such a mathematically exactness makes his performance more attractive & aristocratic. Great musician.Thanks for the video.

[DAVIDFREDERICKROY]

great music, great pianist , great piano ,great recording...love the whole effect

[geertdehoux]

@DAVIDFREDERICKROY

Great shoes ?

[brianCIM]

Thank God the comments on this awe-inspiring performance are more gracious than other posts of this piece. I keep hearing "this is way to fast" or "this is mechanical". What the hell are these people smoking? It is supposed to be sprightly and not a "Marche Funebre". If people would take the time time to glance at the score they would realize by its very notation it is meant to be this fast. ABM is a genius and when i heard it, i went out that very day to obtain the score. this is miraculous.

[geertdehoux]

@brianCIM

Which score ? Are you aware of the fact musicology teaches us all of Domenico's music was written down after he died, I mean by other musicians ?

So, please don't be too attached to 'the score'...

[brianCIM]

@geertdehoux what i am conveying is that it is notated almost entirely in 16th notes. I have a feeling if it were to be played at a slow tempo Scarlatti probably would have notated these 16th note figures as 8th notes. I am not talking about the editor. i am talking about the composer. if you play it too slow it just sounds like a bunch of broken chords. Those figures, at least to my ear, sound like they were harmonically inspired not melodically.

[geertdehoux]

@brianCIM

Thanks for your interesting comment.

However, it seems Scarlatti didn't write down even one single piece himself!

Don't forget in Scarlatti's time musical keyboard instruments couldn't produce such long sounds as pianos can nowadays.

At last, for myself 'the music' itself is far more important than the notation.

It seesm the last chord Michelangeli adds wasn't written onto the score and I don't like it at all.

A respectful greeting,

Geert Dehoux, pianist.

[geertdehoux]

@brianCIM

I'm not smoking anything.

[crob647gtx]

*smiling* uncontrollably. How can u not? this is awe inspiring piano performance at its zenith.

[geertdehoux]

@crob647gtx

Do you mean zenith in autumn or spring ?

[crob647gtx]

@geertdehoux oh i just meant zenith in terms of "peak" or prime....i didn't know zenith had other scientific meaning ;)

[geertdehoux]

@crob647gtx

I was just joking...

Have a nice weekend!

G. Dehoux, pianist.

[bontempo01]

This just sounds soooo... Italian in style. Very nice piece and great performance by the Maestro. I want to play this!!!

[geertdehoux]

@bontempo01

Italian style ? Do you think Domenico - who lived mostly in Spain - played his music in the 'Italian style' ?

[aeromech84]

@geertdehoux Spanish music? lol Spain has no classical music, but flamenco lol!! He influenced by Spanish folk music, but not entirely. Almost every musician with 2 bits of knowledge can recognise Italian style, Bach knew that !!

[geertdehoux]

@aeromech84

What a stupid reaction.

Where did I say something about "Spanish music" ??

And "Spain has no classical music" ??!

What an idiot you are!

"Spanish folk music" ??

"2 bits of knowledge" ??

"Bach" ?

How useless reading this shit...

My advice to you: better talk about something else than classical music.

[aeromech84]

@geertdehoux Bahahahahaha.....you're a boor sir!! and Yes Spain has no music comparable to that of Italy, Germany, France and even English. Bach would agree with it!!!

[LandonHobbs]

Just when I thought Scarlatti couldn't get any better...

[bersa888]

@LandonHobbs : Yes, he could: on a good harpsichord ;-) But, yes, this is a classic...

[geertdehoux]

@LandonHobbs

Disappointed ?

[fabiomax83]

Farlini!

[geertdehoux]

@fabiomax83

Pralini ?

[Abiisaint]

this sonata of Scarlatti is very nice I conosco because a friend plays it really cool but he plays beautifully! I fell in love this sonata!

[geertdehoux]

@Abiisaint

In love with this 'Sonata' ? What does your friend say about that ?!

[ToccodelDestino]

Perfect.

[andriventu]

He's PERFECTION...in a living being!

Grazie PietroBosio!!

[MrMrMikayel]

Bravo Maestro!!!

[geertdehoux]

@MrMrMikayel

Gracias...!

[newFranzFerencLiszt]

Great

[voolare]

At least this version is not accelerated like the previous one! Both very nice.

[n00belicious]

i like the other recording better.

[libetta]

why? this is better quality

[chazinko]

This is just a little jewel all around and brightened up my day.

[bluesbricklayer]

Ma sbaglio o ci fa qualche piccola variazione rispetto allo spartito originale? A parte il finali, mi sembra che ci siano delle battute in più e qualche nota diversa, che lui mette apposta

[geertdehoux]

@bluesbricklayer

Seguro! Pero al fin: y qué ?!

[emliebediemusik1]

there are no words,how perfect ,beatifull,unic and from spirit of great master scarlatti blessed this interpretation.thank you god for this great italian artist.

[geertdehoux]

@emliebediemusik1

Do you say "Thank you, God" for all the misery, ignorance, cruelty, poverty, corruption and tremendous suffering in this horrible world, too ??!

[lisztafranzi]

@geertdehoux So was kann nur einer in der Reformation völlig versunkenen, von dieser Welt betäubter ungläubiger Holländer fragen.

[geertdehoux]

@lisztafranzi

Was meinen Sie, bitte ?

Danke.

[geertdehoux]

@lisztafranzi

An dem fliegenden Holländer ?

[Paraclitum]

Quell'altra e' del'49 questa del '62. Meglio questa in effetti.

[afterbabel]

decisamente meglio. fraseggio più chiaro e cesellato, rapporti dinamici più marcati, e quei peculiari, sublimi ritardandi (1.40 e soprattutto 2.23-2.24) di cui non c'è ancora traccia nell'altra...

[gorgiadilentini]

Migliore dell'altra con le riprese da sotto.Qual'e' la piu' vecchia?

[geertdehoux]

@gorgiadilentini

Non migliore de riprese dell'altra ?

[ToccodelDestino]

Bellissima!!!

Questo video non l'avevo mai visto. Grazie!